Rasean Dinkins Went from Scout Team to SEC Starter - Now Georgia’s Defense Might Be Built Around Him
Rasean Dinkins didn’t arrive in Athens with the fanfare of an early enrollee. In fact, he was one of just three freshmen who joined Georgia in the summer, months behind most of his classmates. But by the end of the season, he wasn’t just catching up - he was starting in the SEC Championship and the Sugar Bowl.
That kind of rise doesn’t happen by accident.
Dinkins didn’t just flash potential; he earned trust. Georgia’s coaching staff saw enough in his development throughout the year to hand him the starting STAR role - a hybrid safety/linebacker position - for the final two games of the season.
And he didn’t flinch. Against Alabama in the SEC title game and Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl, the freshman held his ground and gave fans a glimpse of what could be a breakout sophomore campaign in 2026.
From Summer Arrival to Starter
Dinkins’ journey started with a steep learning curve. While most of Georgia’s freshman class had the benefit of spring practice, Dinkins was playing catch-up from day one.
“I feel like I’ve improved a lot since the beginning,” Dinkins said during Sugar Bowl Media Day. “When I got here in the summer, I was kind of behind on a lot of things because a lot of the freshmen came in mid-year. I feel like I’ve made up a lot of ground being on scout team and preparing to be a starter - just preparing any way a starter would.”
That mindset - preparing like a starter even when he wasn’t - paid off. But it wasn’t smooth sailing early on.
Dinkins recalled his first day being thrown into a 7-on-7 drill and missing a couple of coverages. It was a wake-up call.
Still, by the time fall camp rolled around, he had settled in and started to find his rhythm.
Earning His Stripes
Early in the season, Dinkins backed up Joenel Aguero at STAR and saw most of his action on special teams. He got 18 defensive snaps in the opener against Marshall but didn’t see double-digit reps again until Week 11 at Mississippi State. He followed that up with increased action against Texas and Charlotte, but didn’t play on defense in the regular-season finale versus Georgia Tech.
Then came the turning point.
Aguero suffered a hand injury leading into the SEC Championship Game, and suddenly Dinkins wasn’t just a backup - he was the guy. His first career start came with a conference title on the line, and head coach Kirby Smart made it clear that Dinkins had earned the opportunity.
“Dink has been practicing really well,” Smart said after Georgia’s 28-7 win over Alabama. “We got him a series against Charlotte.
We considered getting him a series against Georgia Tech. Joenel practiced all week and was good to go, but we thought, ‘If Joenel has this glove on, maybe we should give Dink a series or two.’
Dink went one series, then another. Things were going our way.”
Dinkins admitted to feeling the nerves early, but leaned on his preparation to settle in.
“I feel like I was really prepared for that game,” he said. “Even though I wasn’t the starter, I always prepared like I was. That was a really great experience.”
Holding His Own on the Big Stage
Dinkins didn’t just survive in his first start - he played well enough to stay on the field. And he followed it up with another start in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss, where he recorded four tackles and a tackle for loss in a 39-34 loss.
That performance, especially under the bright lights of postseason football, has Georgia fans and coaches alike excited about what’s next.
Ahead of the Sugar Bowl, Dinkins leaned on the support of veteran teammates like Aguero, KJ Bolden, Zion Branch, CJ Allen, and Daylen Everette. Now, heading into 2026, Dinkins is set to become one of those leaders himself.
The only real question? Where he lines up.
With Aguero returning and Bolden holding down one safety spot, Georgia’s staff will have to decide whether to keep Dinkins at STAR or move him to safety. Either way, he’s earned a spot in the starting lineup.
What Comes Next
Dinkins isn’t resting on a strong finish. When asked what he wants to improve heading into Year 2, he didn’t hesitate.
“I feel like I can really improve on my man technique - getting hands on guys at the top of the route,” he said.
That’s the mindset of a player who knows he belongs but isn’t satisfied. After a freshman year that started with busted coverages and ended with back-to-back starts in championship-level games, Dinkins is poised to take another leap. And if Georgia’s defense is going to maintain its elite standard in 2026, don’t be surprised if Rasean Dinkins is right in the middle of it - STAR or safety, it might not matter.